3947. Robert Southey to John Rickman, 4 January 1823

 

Address: To/ J Rickman Esqre 
Endorsement: RS to JR/ Jany 4 1823
MS: Huntington Library, RS 427. ALS; 3p.
Unpublished.

My dear R.

I have had a very civil letter written by Sir Wm Knighton ex officio to acknowledge my book,

(1)

The first volume of Southey’s History of the Peninsular War (1823–1832), dedicated to George IV.

– with the special favour of the Kings signifying his approbation of the letter – in his own hand. How happy would this make a man “who hangs on Princes’ favour”!

(2)

Henry VIII, Act 3, scene 2, line 367.

The Whigs I hear are up in arms against the book, – they will like the second volume worse, for there I shall write their misdeeds, & put them upon record where they will be read. Lord Holland is said to be very sore. I am sorry for this, because he is a man whom it is impossible not to like.

Turner wishes I had endeavoured to conciliate all parties. He might have known that this is impossible. I had but one course to pursue, – the straight forward one of writing honestly. They cannot hate me worse than they do, & they shall not hate me for nothing.

I am getting on with the 2d volume, but cannot put it to press till I obtain a Spanish history of the war in Catalonia, which Murray has been more than six months getting for me.

(3)

Southey had read John Mitford’s ‘On Spanish Literature, with some Account of Francisco de Olivarez’, New Monthly Magazine, 10 (October 1818), 221–223. It mentioned Olivarez’s Account of the War in Catalonia (1815) in four volumes, published at Seville, 1815; Anecdotes of Chiefs Employed in the Catalan War (1816); and Memoirs of the Spanish Monarchy to the Abdication of Charles 4 & the Usurpation of Joseph Bonaparte (1816). However, none of these works seem to exist. Southey had already asked Murray to try and acquire them; see Southey to John Murray: 10 July 1820, The Collected Letters of Robe…

The second vol. will come down to Massenas retreat,

(4)

André Massena (1758–1817) commanded the invasion of Portugal in 1810–1811. Southey did not deal with his retreat until History of the Peninsular War, 3 vols (London, 1823–1832), III, pp. 127–154.

– & my documents are as full & as satisfactory as I could wish.

Remember us to Mrs Rickman – Many & happy new years to you & yours –

God bless you
RS.

Jany 4. 1823

Notes

1. The first volume of Southey’s History of the Peninsular War (1823–1832), dedicated to George IV.[back]
2. Henry VIII, Act 3, scene 2, line 367.[back]
3. Southey had read John Mitford’s ‘On Spanish Literature, with some Account of Francisco de Olivarez’, New Monthly Magazine, 10 (October 1818), 221–223. It mentioned Olivarez’s Account of the War in Catalonia (1815) in four volumes, published at Seville, 1815; Anecdotes of Chiefs Employed in the Catalan War (1816); and Memoirs of the Spanish Monarchy to the Abdication of Charles 4 & the Usurpation of Joseph Bonaparte (1816). However, none of these works seem to exist. Southey had already asked Murray to try and acquire them; see Southey to John Murray: 10 July 1820, The Collected Letters of Robert Southey. Part Six, Letter 3509; 27 February 1821, The Collected Letters of Robert Southey. Part Six, Letter 3641; 11 June 1821, The Collected Letters of Robert Southey. Part Six, Letter 3693; and 27 July 1822, Letter 3877; and 1 November [1822], Letter 3911.[back]
4. André Massena (1758–1817) commanded the invasion of Portugal in 1810–1811. Southey did not deal with his retreat until History of the Peninsular War, 3 vols (London, 1823–1832), III, pp. 127–154.[back]
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